His big break came when he befriended the then relatively unknown rap artist Kanye West. Elderkin had heard a Kanye mixtape and tried to contact the rapper by looking up him up on KanyeWest.com. The website came up as unregistered but available for registration, so he bought the domain name on an impulse. Without a monetary transaction, Elderkin agreed to transfer the domain name provided he could meet the new artist and do a photoshoot with him; these images went on to be the artist’s first publicity photos.

Kanye West’s First Press Photos (2003)

Look below to see more of Nabil’s work:

Nabil also happens to run the videography game, with endless accreditation on some of this century’s top music videos. See some of his most legendary videos below!

Nas, Damian Marley – Patience

SZA – Love Galore (ft. Travis Scott)

Frank Ocean – Swim Good

Kayne West – Welcome To Heartbreak

You can check out more of Nabil’s work at NABIL.com

Suggested Articles:

RESPECT. Photo of the Day: Celebrating B.I.G. 20 Years Later

PICS: Chronixx Performs in London

The post RESPECT.’s Photographer of The Week appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL’ KIM!

10.

September 2000

9.

December 2000

8.

1998 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards

7.

June 2000

6.

November 2000

5.

December 1997 ‘No Way Out’ tour

4.

1999 MTV Video Music Awards

3.

1997 MTV Video Music Awards

2.

May 1997

1.

June 1997: “Crush On You” music video

Did we shout out your favorite outfit? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Suggested Articles:

Major Lazer Drops “Know No Better” Video

New Music: Brandon Gix – “Religion”

The post Lil’ Kim: A Fashion Icon appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

This week has been a long one… You deserve to kick your feet back and chill. Thank god it’s FINALLY FRIDAY!

1. Kendrick Lamar (ft. Zacari), LOVE.

2. GoldLink (ft. Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy), Crew

3. Kendrick Lamar, Members Only

4. Jhene Aiko, While We’re Young

5. Frank Ocean (ft. Jay-Z & Tyler, The Creator), Biking (Solo)

6. Sabrina Claudio, Unravel Me

7. H.E.R., Every Kind of Way

8. PartyNextDoor, Freak In You

9. Daniel Caesar, We Find Love

10. 6LACK & Jhene Aiko, First F**k

11. Bruno Mars, Chunky

12. T-Pain (Freaknik the Ghost), Save You

13. Miguel, the valley

14. SZA, The Weekend

15. Stwo (ft. Amir Obe & Daniel Caesar), Fill The Void

Listen and comment what you think below. Relax, it’s finally Friday readers!

[Listen to the playlist on Apple Music here]

Suggested Articles:

25 of Hip Hop’s Most Memorable Album Covers

Jay Z and Damian Marley Team Up for New Music [Pictures]

The post RESPECT.’s Finally Friday Playlist [LISTEN] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

From Snoop Doggy Dog, to Grandmaster Flash, we’re hopping in a time machine as we go through Hip-Hop’s 25 Most Memorable Album Covers.

25. Juvenile, 400 Degreez (1998)

From the diamonds and flames, to the Z in “Degreez” being a dollar sign…There’s just something about the WordArt feel of this album that keeps fans coming back.

24. Wale, Attention Deficit (2009)

The obvious shoutout to a digital world reigns as the focal point for this album cover. A strong, yet simple message burns through the vibrant cool colors, and captures your attention immediately.

23. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

You’ve probably seen these flowers before, or maybe even these 3 talented young men. Fun fact, rap group De La Soul actually hates this album cover. They felt that everyone would be associating them with flowers, peace, the whole hippie movement, when that wasn’t them at all!

22. Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreak (2008)

The minimalism in this cover is the beauty of it all. Kanye was hurting, simple as that!

21. 2Pac, Me Against The World (1995)

This album shook the charts, and you couldn’t go anywhere in 1995 without seeing it. 2Pac rocked the world right before his unfortunate passing, and sold hundreds of thousands copies of the album.

20. Run-D.M.C., Run-D.M.C. (1984)

Run-D.M.C.; Pioneers, legends, superstars. This classic cover had to make the list!

19. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Firstly, it’s Lauryn Hill etched into a school desk. This album taught everyone a couple of things. No further explanation needed.

18. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle (1993)

From the dogcatcher in the back to the Snoop Dogg lookalike on top of the dog house, this album cover is full of style, steeze, and comedy!

17. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full (1987)

Money. Harlem was all about money. Eric B. and Rakim made it clear that they had it, and there was never any problem getting it! The Dapper Dan Gucci sweatsuits, the huge rope chains… The aesthetic of it all represents a very transitional era in the development of Hip-Hop music.

16. Ice Cube, Death Certificate (1991)

Ice Cube next to Uncle Sam’s corpse. No further explaining to do.

17. Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly (1997)

Missy Elliott has always held more swag than most artists in the music industry, remaining humble and subtly stunting on everyone! This cover embodies exactly who she is; chilling for the moment… but don’t forget that she’s fly.

18. Wu-tang Clan, Enter the Wu-tang: 36 Chambers (1993)

This album cover is actually kind of wild. Firstly, no face, no case. Secondly, does the guy in the front have a finger gun? This album cover is great for its immense mystery.

17. Jay-Z, The Blueprint (2001)

Jay-Z wearing a Rocawear jean jacket smoking a cigar. He won.

16. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders (1993)

The various facial expressions in the background, the bulging eyes… What do we look at first?! This album cover is great because it leaves so much space for interpretation, the colors on the cover represent so many things, and everyone would formulate their own meaning.

15. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

We need to take over the White House… and keep it. Bring our culture, our families, our music… make it OUR country. Simply put.

14. Kanye West, The College Dropout (2004)

We all know the bear. This bear costume (that Kanye FOUND, by the way) looks like any college student during the longest finals week ever: TIRED. The album cover is warm, relatable, and not complex; perfect in a sense.

13. Grandmaster Flash, The Source (1986)

Do we start off with the fly guy with this legs crossed, or old boy with the red leather hat to match his shoes? This album cover embodies the true start of Hip-Hop. B-boys, spitting bars in New York City’s uptown train station, even down the pager on homeboy’s hip!

12. Snoop Doggy Dogg, The Doggfather (1996)

The Godfather is a critically acclaimed cult classic, and Snoop Dogg actually might’ve done something, by simply switching 2 letters! This was Snoop’s final album on Death Row Records under his name of Snoop Doggy Dogg, and he was owning the game. The West coast made no moves without you hearing about Snoop, rightfully making him the Doggfather.

11. NWA, Straight Out of Compton (1988)

One of the most controversial groups, with one of the most rebellious albums of all time. These young men all banded together and shook the West coast with words that everyone in Compton couldn’t bring themselves to say.

10. The Fugees, The Score (1996)

Firstly, Lauryn Hill AND Wyclef Jean on ONE album cover… That’s art. The beauty lies in the minimal yet intense typography, and the 3 beautiful black faces.

9. Nas, Illmatic (1994)

This kid is too cute. Too cute for the cover, and too cute for the hood he reigns from. Nas showed that everyone was suffering and surviving, even the young.

8. Master P, The Ghettos Tryin To Kill Me! (1994)

The lace bra hanging from Master P’s name, the Boosie fade, my man creeping in the window “Cell Therapy” style… The lo-fi quality wraps it all together, you feel like you’re watching a movie, and you’ve barely even looked at the cover.

7. DMX, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)

This album cover is bloody and gory, in every sense. Its beauty lies in the naive state of such a “Ruff” guy, and almost goes to show that the black man is one of the most sensitive species.

6. Redman, Dare Iz a Darkside (1994)

Redman is stuck buried in this Children of the Corn looking field, and its freaking me out. I love it.

5. Outkast, Stankonia (2000)

This album cover is great for 3 reasons: One, Andre 3000 was having an amazing hair day. Two, so was Big Boi. Thirdly, it calls out the entire country, so subtly, being a black and white world. We all knew… But did we really know?

4. Gang Starr, Daily Operation (1992)

Gang Starr is really giving off intellectual and successful vibes, and who doesn’t love that? “The goal is money, and this is how we get it. Don’t ask no questions, I thought this through.” Guys from the hood are smart too!

3. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return of the 36 Chambers (1995)

Have you seen the O.D.B tv special, where he took America into the food stamp office in Brooklyn, and got his money right? This man never cared, was never too embarrassed to live his life and let whoever wanted to look come and see. Hoping his unbothered soul is resting in peace.

2. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (1994)

Foreshadowing? This was Biggie’s debut album, and just as his career was being born, he was ready to die. Sadly, he would pass away 2 years after its release. But in those 2 short years, he conquered the world. He started off on top, and he achieved what he needed to; he was truly ready to die.

1. Geto Boys, We Can’t Be Stopped (1991)

This man… Is in a hospital bed. The rap trio is standing in a hospital, posed for an ALBUM COVER. Who was stopping the Geto Boys? NOTHING! They literally cannot be stopped, no matter the circumstance. This cover is full of hustle and desire to reach success, and has to be respected as THE most memorable. Who’s forgetting this?

Do you have any albums you think should’ve been on this list? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Suggested Articles:

PHOTO OF THE DAY: June 15th, 2017

Kelow Latesha Returns With New Single “Yeah”

The post 25 of Hip Hop’s Most Memorable Album Covers appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Thursday’s are prime time, little did you know! It’s the Friday before Friday, the breath before the break, the eye of the storm. Here are some tunes that will roll you over into the end of your busy work week, or get that 4-day weekend started.

1. Rihanna – Consideration (ft. SZA)

2. Miguel – Coffee

3. The Notorious B.I.G – Party and Bullsh*t

4. WZRD – Teleport 2 Me, Jamie

5. LION BABE – Rockets

6. Jesse Boykins III – Prototype (COVER)

7. Kendrick Lamar – Night of the Living Junkies

8. De La Soul – Buddy (ft. A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah) 

9. Stevie Wonder – Jungle Fever

10. Frank Ocean – Songs for Women 

11. Chance the Rapper – Juice

12. Soul II Soul – Back to Life (Acapella)

13. Stwo – Fill the Void (ft. Amir Obe and Daniel Caesar)

14. Tyler, the Creator – She (ft. Frank Ocean)

15. LL Cool J – Hey Lover (ft. Boyz II Men)

Listen and comment what you think below. Stay thirsty, and finish off strong readers!

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post RESPECT.’s Thirsty Thursday Playlist [LISTEN] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo Credit: adidas

adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Triple White”

Release date: April 29th, 2017

Retail price: $220

On February 11th, 2017, adidas and Kayne West came together to release a “Core Black” Yeezy Boost 350 colorway. Sneaker heads from coast to coast were huge fans, and pairs were snatched from the shelves. On February 25th, 2017, they followed up with a limited “Zebra” colorway, and took the sneaker world by storm. After many rumors, and weeding through fakes, Yeezy Boost fans are finally getting a “Triple White,” just in time for summer.

Photo Credit: adidas

This summer, sneakerheads will be rocking an all-white Primeknit woven upper with hints of the traditional side panel stripe showcased through a difference in the premium woven construction. This pair of 350s will be the return of the heel tab, which was absent on other Yeezy Boost V2 models.

As of now, there’s no word yet on just how limited this release will be when compared to the readily available Triple Black and scarce Zebra options, but stay tuned.

adidas and Kayne West have created something great, yet again! Will you be fighting to grab a pair?

Tell us what you think in the comments below!

Suggested Articles:

A Place for Everything in New York: Shopping at Sneak EZ

Kendrick Lamar Drops Crazy New Visual For “Humble” [WATCH]

The post adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 “Triple White” Release [Cop or Not?] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

1. dvsn – Too Deep

2. Erykah Badu – Hello (ft. Andre 3000)

3. Tame Impala – New Person, Same Old Mistakes

4. Sampha – Too Much

5. Syd – Body

6. Daniel Caesar – Japanese Denim

7. Alina Baraz & Galimatias – Fantasy

8. Frank Ocean – Chanel

9. H.E.R. – Focus

10. Andre 3000 – Prototype

11. Anderson .Paak – Silicone Valley

12. Mos Def – UMI Says

13. Kool & The Gang – Summer Madness

14. 6LACK – PRBLMS

15. Noname – Shadow Man (ft. Saba, Smino & Pheolix)

Listen and comment what you think below. Keep it simple, and have a good week readers!

Suggested Articles:

Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Royal Blue” Release [Cop or Not]

Zayn & PARTYNEXTDOOR Team Up for “Still Got Time”

The post RESPECT.’s Simple Sunday Playlist [LISTEN] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.